City Self / Country Self

Canadian artist Rodney Graham uses a debasing scene from a 19th century illustrated children’s book for his silk screen on wallpaper titled City Self / Country Self. Created in 2001 it depicts an elegantly dressed dandy contemptuously kicking a man from the provinces in the ass, causing him to lose his hat. 
Rodney Graham developed the illustration into a short film slapstick-like comedy, in which the artist plays both characters. Although the story is told with many anecdotal details, it remains unclear why the attack occurred in the first place. The artist created the short film as a loop, like many of his films. Caught in an endless loop, the scene is repeated like the screen print of the children's book illustration in the wallpaper pattern.